All 25 other Minotaur rocket launches have been completely successful, but this is the first launch of this type of rocket from Florida, according to Jennifer Bowman, director of communications for Orbital ATK's flight system's group. The other launches took place in Alaska, Virginia and California, she said.

Bowman said the rocket launch is important because it helps monitor satellites, such as those carrying satellite television into people's homes, and it supports the U.S. military.

"It will sit in an orbit where it can monitor all the satellites ... so it can watch and make sure that the satellites aren't bumping into each other and that there's nothing nefarious happening in space in that range. So it's kind of all eyes on the area where most satellite assets reside," Bowman said.

The engineering development work, the rocket design and the avionics took place in Chandler, Bowman said.

Workers, including some Chandler employees, traveled to Florida to assemble the rocket, she said.

From start to finish, it took about two years to build the Minotaur IV, Bowman said.

Orbital ATK is based in Virginia and has facilities in Chandler, Mesa and Gilbert.

Orbital ATK is based in Virginia and has facilities in Chandler, Mesa and Gilbert.(Photo: Orbital ATK)